Grave Digger is a monster truck owned by Feld Motorsports. Active for more than 35 years, there are 9 competing Grave Digger vehicles with 8 current competing drivers on the Monster Jam circuit. Grave Digger is in every Monster Jam game from Maximum Destruction to Urban Assault to As Big as it Gets to Crush It.

It is special for being the only FELD owned truck to be hand painted on every single body.

Contents

History

In 1982, Dennis Anderson created his mud racer, Grave Digger. The name came from a smack-talking session he had with his rivals ("I'll take this old junk and dig you a grave with it.").

In 1986 Dennis Anderson started racing monster trucks full time. The truck became super popular, despite lack of sponsorship that trucks like Bigfoot (Which was sponsored by Ford) had. His first major victory was in Saint Paul, Minnesota, against the Bigfoot.

In 1989 he switched from a 1951 Ford Panel truck to a 1950 Chevrolet Panel truck. Two years later, he debuted Grave Digger (III), the first four-link Grave Digger.

In 1998, Dennis sold team Grave Digger to PACE Motorsports (now Feld Motorsports). Dispite no longer owning the truck, he is still arguably its most popular driver.

In 2000, Debra Miceli, driver of Madusa, was taught by Dennis Anderson to drive monster trucks and drove one of his Grave Digger trucks.

Also in 2000, Dennis Anderson and Grave Digger were invited to Monster Jam World Finals 1 and won the freestyle championship there with a score of 40.

in 2015 Path of Destruction Tour, "Steve Brynes" a Former Nascar Annoucer Which passed away in April 21, 2015 was written On the Grave Digger Tombstone Instead of the Usual "Dennis Anderson".

In 2016, a new chrome paint scheme will debut along with Dennis's son Adam driving Grave Digger for the Fox Sports 1 Championship Series while lifelong friend of the Anderson boys Morgan Kane will switch from Max D to Grave Digger and Adam's long time crew chief Cole Venard will also join the team with the two competing in the More Monster Jam series. Charlie Pauken, Pablo Huffaker, Randy Brown, Carl Van Horn & Jon Zimmer will all return. In World Finals 17 Morgan Kane in Grave Digger took home racing. Adam Anderson in Grave Digger won freestyle.

New tool

In 2016, a new Grave Digger mold was released, the first time in 16 years that the original mold, created in 2000 as one of the original 4 toys, was altered. This new design which went unnoticed at first until fans found the differences, being a more round body, new front clip, and overall, a more realistic design. The problem was that the design never showed the "New tool" deco on the packaging, and it shared the exact same packaging as the old style. Another version of Grave Digger was released, but this time, the roof artwork is different.

In 2017, Grave Digger celebrates its 35th Anniversary. Tyler Menninga joins the team and runs the More Monster Jam tour along with Cole Venard. Morgan Kane and Adam Anderson competed in the Fox Sports 1 Series. Dennis Anderson and Charlie Pauken ran the two Stadium Tours while Randy Brown and Pablo Huffaker competed in two of the other Arena Tours. The truck also receives its first official female driver, Krysten Anderson, who competed on the Central More Monster Jam Tour. Dennis Anderson was injured at the Raymond James Stadium show in Tampa, Flordia on January 14, 2017, making this his final event where he competed. Carl Van Horn and Jon Zimmer filled in for the rest of his tour.

On September 18, 2017, Dennis announced his full retirement from Monster Jam, stating he would still be behind the scenes at events and in the pits.

For 2018 the team will be running eight trucks, Brandon Vinson joins the team to take the place of the retired Cole Venard and Adam Anderson takes over as the main driver due to Dennis Anderson's retirement. Adam Anderson, Charlie Pauken, Randy Brown, and Morgan Kane will each run a stadium series. Three drivers will once again be running the Triple Threat Series, Krysten Anderson will run the west series, Tyler Menninga wil run the central tour, and Vinson will run the east series. Pablo Hufaker will be running the forth arena tour.

Built in 1982. It was on display at the Monster Jam World Finals 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada for his twenty-fifth anniversary. It is now on display outside Digger's Dungeon in Poplar Branch, North Carolina. It is in poor condition

Ride truck. Sold to Randy Moore, who turned it into War Wizard ride, who sold it to Randy Brown, who soon turned it into Pure Adrenaline ride, and later Grave Digger Ride. The truck has since been reaquired by FELD.

Four-link suspension Grave Digger. Was driven by Dennis Anderson from 2001 to 2003 and was driven by Randy Brown from 2004 to 2006. Was driven by Chad Tingler until 2010, when it was retired due to extensive damage.

Digger's Dungeon

Digger's Dungeon in North Carolina serves as the official home of Grave Digger. It houses various Feld vehicles from time to time. It features a gift shop and museum of various Grave Digger parts, trophies, and merchandise.

Gallery

Original Grave Digger 1982-1983

Grave Digger 1984-1985

Grave Digger 1986-1990

Grave Digger 1991-1998

Current paint scheme

20th Anniversary Grave Digger

Chrome 25th Anniversary Grave Digger

30th Anniversary Designs

Chrome purple 30th Anniversary Grave Digger

Chrome green 30th Anniversary Grave Digger

Grave Digger loses a right-back tire, leaving only the rim.

A Grave Digger stacked onto two more Grave Diggers at the Monster Jam World Finals 14 pit party.